Chapter 2 – The Plan to the Forbidden Passage

The conversation with the old man still echoed in the minds of the three children. A magical book… a secret that had been hidden for centuries… and now, they were the only ones who could uncover this secret.

But there was a major obstacle ahead: how would they get into the crypt beneath the Cologne Cathedral?

Meric, Lina, and Marlon gathered at Lina's house after school. They spread out a notebook, several old newspaper clippings, and a tourist brochure of the cathedral on the table.

Marlon stood with his arms crossed, a worried expression on his face.

Marlon: (Sighing) "I still don't get it. There's no way we can get in there."

Meric: (Smiling) "What's impossible about it? Tourists go in the cathedral every day."

Lina: (Seriously) "Yes, but tourists can only visit the main sections. The crypt isn't open to the public. I checked the historical records of the cathedral. In 1905, some passages were sealed off. They said it was for 'security reasons,' but I think they're hiding something much bigger."

Marlon picked up one of the newspapers and began reading.

Marlon: "Here, it says that in 1972, a few historians entered the crypt… but one of them disappeared. There's no official explanation for this in the records."

Silence fell over the room. The only sound was the ticking of the clock on the wall.

Meric: (Shaking his head) "Instead of debating whether this is a good idea, we should be talking about how to get in. We have two options: either we get someone to let us in, or we find an open door."

Lina immediately opened her notebook and started scribbling something down.

Lina: "There might be a secret passage. I looked at old maps of the cathedral. In the 1800s, there was a door leading to the crypt, but they say it's no longer in use."

Meric looked at the rough sketch Lina had drawn. On the map, a small door was marked on the side of the cathedral.

Meric: (Excitedly) "Where is this door?"

Lina: "In the back courtyard, in a section reserved for the priests. It's normally closed, but…"

Marlon: (Raising an eyebrow) "But?"

Lina: (Smiling) "But sometimes it stays open. Especially when tourist groups come through."

Marlon rolled his eyes.

Marlon: "So our plan is 'hopefully the door is open'?"

Meric: "Of course not! If the door is closed, we'll talk to the people inside. Maybe a staff member or a tour guide can let us in."

Lina: (Thinking) "Then we'll need to come up with a story."

Marlon suddenly jumped.

Marlon: "W-wait… we need to make up a story? You mean… lie?"

Meric: (Rolling his eyes) "Not exactly lying. More like… creative truth-telling."

Lina tapped her finger on her temple as she thought. Then, she smiled.

Lina: "I've got it! One of us will pretend to be a student doing research for a school project. They'll talk to the guides to get information about the crypt and ask if we can go inside."

Meric: "Great idea. Who's doing it?"

Marlon immediately shrank back.

Marlon: "Forget it. I stutter even when I talk normally."

Lina: (Laughing) "I'll do it."

Meric: "Perfect. If Lina distracts the guides, Marlon and I will check the door in the courtyard. If it's open, we'll go in."

Marlon took a deep breath and sighed.

Marlon: "One day, this is going to get us in serious trouble."

Meric: (Smiling) "But today isn't that day."

Lina jotted down her final notes in the notebook and then looked up at her two friends.

Lina: "Then tomorrow afternoon, we meet at the Cologne Cathedral."

They all exchanged looks. Their hearts were beating faster.

Tomorrow, they would take the first step toward uncovering history's greatest secret.